New England KOs Foles, Philadelphia
Jets’ Darnold not so sharp in second exhibition outing
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady shook off the rust of a long layoff and then found time to shake hands with Nick Foles, six months after they met in the Super Bowl.
Brady moved the Patriots with ease in their rematch against the Eagles, with a little help from running back James White. Foles left with a shoulder injury after giving up a strip sack that led to Ja’Whaun Bentley’s scoop and score, but the reigning Super Bowl MVP stuck around to get his long-awaited congratulations from the reigning NFL MVP after New England’s 37-20 win Thursday night.
“That was kind of made up to me because that was never my intention. I wouldn’t be a bad sport,” said Brady, who never made it to Foles for a handshake after the Eagles’ 41-33 victory in the Super Bowl. “I have a lot of respect for Nick. I know how hard it is to win that last game. They did it; congratulations to them.”
In his first action since losing in the NFL title game, Brady led New England to scores on four of the six series he played, completing 19 of 26 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns to help stake New England to a 27-7 halftime lead.
“It’s the first time having to do that in about six months,” Brady said after Brian Hoyer finished up the victory. “I feel like my timing could be better in certain areas. I’ve been doing this or a long time, so a lot of it is second nature at this point.”